Tractors idling on the roads of France. Monday January 6, at dawn, dozens of farmers set off for Paris as part of a “snail operation”according to messages published by Rural Coordination (CR) on the social network denounces standards that are too strict and considered unfair, against a backdrop of concerns about the proposed free trade treaty with Mercosur. A procession of tractors also blocked the A7 motorway on the outskirts of Lyon, according to France Télévisions correspondents on site. Follow our live stream.
Actions planned over several days. According to Rural Coordination, farmers' actions could last “three, four or five days”declared the union in The Parisian. “It is not a question of blocking Parisians, nor Ile-de-France residents”assured Amélie Rebière on France 3 on Sunday. These will mainly be “tractors which will come from Ile-de-France, from neighboring departments” who will parade towards Paris, she added.
Standards in the viewfinder. In recent days, Rural Coordination has highlighted its main demands, including “stopping the over-transposition of European rules in France”as well as the implementation of “controls on imports rather than on farms”explained Sophie Lenaerts, another vice-president of the union, to AFP. The CR also opposes the final ratification of the free trade treaty between the EU and Mercosur, accused of encouraging unfair competition.
François Bayrou suggests a meeting. The Prime Minister had proposed on Friday to the four main agricultural unions to meet on January 13, on the eve of his general policy speech to the Assembly. But this date was considered too far away by the Rural Coordination, which hopes to be received by Tuesday. The FNSEA-JA alliance, for its part, indicated that it was already in contact with Matignon.
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